How to Reduce Cost in SLS 3D Printing

Why simple design changes bring major savings.

In the series of videos on selective laser sintering (SLS) polymer additive manufacturing I have been doing with Nate Stevens of Lifestyle Additive, we devote one episode entirely to the topic of cost control.

SLS can feel like the costliest polymer 3D printing process because it is generally used in industrial contexts, and because the detail of the parts it produces is so fine. In fact, SLS offers the potential to deliver the lowest per-piece cost among AM processes.

A few simple tactics help to deliver on this potential. They include tweaking designs to allow for maximum packing of parts within the build volume and (this is the underappreciated cost lever) designing to avoid thick walls.

Because there is so much potential for mild design changes to bring major cost savings, the first pricing quote for SLS is often misleading. Nate and I break this down in the video.

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